Can utopia truly be achieved in a capitalist society? I highly doubt it. If utopia is defined as a place of perfect ideals, including laws, government, and social conditions, then it is unlikely that a perfect place where everything is ideal for everyone can exist. I believe that perfection is unattainable in a capitalist society due to competition. Competition can be beneficial in various aspects, such as technological advancements, motivating individuals to work harder, and boosting the economy. However, when it comes to ideal perfection, competition becomes an obstacle. In my view, achieving perfection in laws is not possible because of competition. One example is the abundance of laws that govern a capitalist society, such as outlawing monopolies.
Laws are imperfect as there are individuals who desire to generate greater wealth but are restricted by regulations preventing them from doing so. There may also be ethical dilemmas between businesses, leading to imperfections. Furthermore, certain common laws within the business sector may be unfair to other businesses, resulting in an imperfect society. Ideal perfection encompasses not only the contentment of individuals with their economic standing but also the absence of any desire for improvement. However, in a competitive society, the possibility of improvement is eliminated. Achieving perfection in government is extremely challenging as it is uncommon for everyone to agree on anything that the government provides.
Government should aim to maintain a balanced economic system and ensure societal stability, but in reality, tax disparities and significant income gaps between different classes exist in capitalist societies. In my opinion, a good government cannot achieve complete perfection as that would require exerting control over its people similar to a communist country, which would still fall short from society’s standpoint.
The question of whether perfect social conditions can truly exist raises the most compelling argument against attaining utopia. What constitutes perfect social conditions? Does it include universal employment and strong family values?
Is our capitalist society truly aligned with the economic system and striving for the ultimate goal, which is maximizing profits? Are all individuals provided with housing in our theoretically perfect society, and do our morals and values find validation in this society? Personally, I disagree because our “great” capitalist society does not prioritize teaching morals or values; instead, it promotes competition and the desire to win. It disregards the means in favor of the end result. I believe that a society lacking morals and values cannot possibly achieve utopia. Our society is imperfect, and attaining utopia is impossible as long as competition, particularly the aspect of winning, remains prevalent. There could be various other reasons why obtaining utopia is unattainable in a capitalist society. There may be compelling arguments in favor of achieving utopia. However, in my own subjective viewpoint, perfection is challenging to attain when one lives in a society where someone has to lose.
